Nestled amidst the Country Knolls neighborhood is the 81-acre forest, North Woods Nature Preserve, with its unique groundwater seeps, sandy ravines and trout stream leading to the former Village of Round Lake reservoir.  The land reflects glacial Lake Albany geology and includes Oakville and Deerfield sandy soils.  North Woods Nature Preserve's stream is a tributary to the Anthony Kill which flows ultimately into the Hudson River to the east.  The Town of Clifton Park acquired the property in 2001 and designated it as a public nature preserve with $70,000 in grant assistance from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.

The site is accessible by foot, snowshoe or cross-country skiis from the primary location of the south side of Shadow Wood Way, between Partridge Plateau and Perk Place.   

Deer, Pileated Woodpecker, trout.

The reservoir/pond, stream, and new pedestrian bridges created by Eagle Scout Charles McGuffey. In 2012, Eagle Scout candidate Matthew McGuffey executed the installation of a new "yellow" trail loop that explores the northeastern area of the preserve.

Visitors may follow an on-the-road trail to connect to Long Kill Park from Blue Spruce Lane, and access the Longkill Trail, and to the south, the Ushers Road Multi-Use Trail, all part of the Northern Loop trail network in Northern Clifton Park.  The Ushers Road Trail leads to Ushers Road State Forest, approximately four miles to the east.   Taking Ushers Road Trail and turning south on the Van Patten Drive Multi-Use Trail leads to Carlton Road, and then to Kinns Road.  At the intersection of Kinns Road and Carlton Road is the Kinns Road Park/Saratoga County Forest, less than three miles to the south.   Other sites of interest in the vicinity are the Village of Round Lake to the northeast, Mohawk Landing Nature Preserve along the Mohawk River and Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve along the Mohawk River and Historic Erie Canal.  The Village of Round Lake to the northeast would be a great cultural visit for the unique hamlet settlement pattern and architecture, and its proximity to the Zim Smith Trail.  

The Town of Clifton Park owns and manages the nature preserve. 

A guided stewardship walk is slated for Friday, December 7, 2012 at 1 p.m. at North Woods Nature Preserve.  Meet at the trailhead entrance on Shadow Wood Way.  

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